Agniveers Eligible To Bag Jobs At BrahMos Aerospace As Firm Reserves Special Quota For Them

The Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, which produces the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, has announced a range of job opportunities specifically reserved for Agniveers, recruited through the Agnipath scheme.

These vacancies are available across various departments, including technical, general administration, and security. Additionally, the company will encourage its industry partners to hire Agniveers who are released after four years of service.

In an official order published on Thursday, BrahMos Aerospace confirmed that at least 15% of vacancies in technical and general administration roles will be reserved for Agniveers. Moreover, they will also be recruited for at least 50% of positions in security and other administrative functions at various centres where such roles have been outsourced.

The company emphasised the importance of Agniveers in India's future development, stating on X, "The #Agniveers, with their rigorous, time-bound training in military tactics, technical proficiency, discipline & quick adaptability, will be the backbone of India's growing defence & industrial sectors. As #India continues its journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, the contribution of #Agniveers in industries like ours will be pivotal in shaping the country's future."

This announcement comes just days before the Haryana assembly elections, where the Agnipath scheme has faced strong opposition.

BrahMos Aerospace is the first major organisation to officially announce reserved positions for Agniveers across different functions. The government has already reserved 10% of vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces, and several defence public sector undertakings are expected to follow suit by amending their recruitment rules, including offering age relaxations for Agniveers. States such as Haryana and Rajasthan have also announced reservations for Agniveers in their police forces.

Introduced two years ago, the Agnipath recruitment model aims to maintain a younger and more battle-ready military. It marked a significant shift from the military's traditional recruitment system, which was scrapped when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government launched the scheme in June 2022. The scheme recruits young men and women aged between 17 and a half and 21 for a four-year service period, with a provision to retain 25% for a further 15 years.

BrahMos Aerospace has also said that its industry partners will be encouraged to recruit at least 15% of Agniveers, with this requirement included in the terms and conditions of commercial supply orders.

"#BrahMosAerospace strongly believes that #Agniveers, passed out from Govt. of India's Agnipath Scheme, will not only fill the skill gap at grassroots level for the Indian defence industries, but also provide a dedicated workforce which places the Nation and the organisation at the forefront," the company reiterated on X.

The company has also made provisions to hire Agniveers for at least 15% of contractual positions through third-party staffing, based on their experience and qualifications for technical roles.

Earlier this month, Hindustan Times reported that the government has no intention of revising the Agnipath scheme, despite the controversy surrounding it. The scheme, which reduces the tenure of non-officer personnel and offers fewer service benefits, remains a politically charged issue. The opposition Congress has called for its scrapping, and it has faced criticism from aspirants, particularly in northern states, where it is believed to have cost the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a significant number of votes during the national elections earlier this year.

Under the legacy recruitment system, soldiers serve for around 20 years, retiring in their late 30s with pensions and additional benefits, including healthcare and canteen services. However, Agniveers released after four years of service are not entitled to these benefits.

In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed the criticism of the Agnipath model, asserting that it would enhance combat effectiveness and increase the nation's strength. Speaking at a function in Dras to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Kargil war, he remarked, "Discussions on reducing the age profile of the armed forces had been going on for decades, but there was no political will to make this happen. The average age of Indian soldiers was way more than the global average and that was worrisome."